Month: September 2020

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Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Boosting Exercises for Screenwriters

Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

Having troubles finding something to write about? Not satisfied with the content of your screenplay? Feel like you are out of screenplay ideas? Well you may be going through a writer’s block and struggling to find creativity. Staying in that state can damage your writing and the routine that you have created for your work. It is important to get out of this slump and continue on with your work.

There are many exercises that you can adopt in your daily routine to keep on writing and improve your skills as a writer as well. Read on as we help you in overcoming the writer’s block and develop your creativity.

A Small Change Can Go A Long Way

When writing screenplays, a screenwriter might create a scenario where the dialogues and situation may be too long or dragged out. To help you improve your creativity, take any scene from your script where the dialogue is the longest and completely change it around. Put your character in an extreme situation, of your choice, where they are exposed to something hard to handle. Use your creativity to portray how the character will act in that situation and the subtle reactions and feelings that they might show. After you have started to write about the change in scenario, you will notice that you do not have to put in much effort to guide the character and construct the story, the character will lead their own twists and turns to their story.

A small change in scenarios and how you approach it can make a big difference in the way your story moves forward from there on.

Go In Reverse Mode

You may be confused about what writing in reverse could mean and that is valid. Let us explain what we mean. This exercise requires that rather than writing a full script and turning it into a film, instead you choose a specific scene from a film and go on to make a script out of it with your own words and ideas.

This fun exercise can get your brain working in overdrive with the multitude of possibilities flashing through your mind. You can change your perspective and write a sample screenplay with that scene as your base and compare it to the original screenplay to see the difference.

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Get Inspiration From Others’ Work For Practice

Before you go on and start copying other screenwriters’ screenplays for creating your own screenplays, you should know that stealing someone’s work is wrong and illegal. When we say that get inspiration from other works we want you to read other scripts and take a few scenes from it to create your own version of it, just for practice purposes!

Take an idea or scenario given by the writer in the screenplay and create your own screenplay dialogue, give it an alternative ending or follow the same ending scene. Do whatever you want but just make sure to have fun with it to and experience the freedom to write anything.

Don’t Tell, Just Show

A scene can get boring or too much depending upon how the character displays and expresses their feelings in situations. If a person continuously talks about how they feel, it can annoy the readers.

The best way to deal with the problem of overbearing emotions is to use your words to create a scenario where the character’s expressions, behavior and actions explains how they are feeling. Rather than stating simply that ‘I am angry’, a dialogue should be constructed where the character emotes through their actions. This exercise will enable writers to express a character’s emotions through their actions more and will immerse the reader.

Find Creativity in the Mundane

We may ignore the general routine, behavior, and even objects that we observe in our daily life because of how unimportant they seem. A screenwriter is supposed to observe their surroundings more than the normal person and find stories from the mundane objects and routines that they live.

An object, for example, an engraved pen may seem boring but in this exercise you have to take that pen as the center of your story and write details about it, describing its intricate styles and curvatures. This will improve how descriptive your scenes are and can help you evaluate your attention to detail which allows the readers to imagine scenes better. In this exercise, while observing the movement of people in the street or in a restaurant, think of the reasons behind what they did or what could have happened to them to lead them at that place at that exact time and write about it.

Give yourself freedom and space to write. Try to expand your world of writing and creativity by taking ordinary objects around you and giving them their own special story.

Creativity Boosting Exercises Screenwriters Should Know

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

Having troubles finding something to write about? Not satisfied with the content of your screenplay? Feel like you are out of screenplay ideas? Well you may be going through a writer’s block and struggling to find creativity. Staying in that state can damage your writing and the routine that you have created for your work. It is important to get out of this slump and continue on with your work.

There are many exercises that you can adopt in your daily routine to keep on writing and improve your skills as a writer as well. Read on as we help you in overcoming the writer’s block and develop your creativity.

A Small Change Can Go A Long Way

When writing screenplays, a screenwriter might create a scenario where the dialogues and situation may be too long or dragged out. To help you improve your creativity, take any scene from your script where the dialogue is the longest and completely change it around. Put your character in an extreme situation, of your choice, where they are exposed to something hard to handle. Use your creativity to portray how the character will act in that situation and the subtle reactions and feelings that they might show. After you have started to write about the change in scenario, you will notice that you do not have to put in much effort to guide the character and construct the story, the character will lead their own twists and turns to their story.

A small change in scenarios and how you approach it can make a big difference in the way your story moves forward from there on.

Go In Reverse Mode

You may be confused about what writing in reverse could mean and that is valid. Let us explain what we mean. This exercise requires that rather than writing a full script and turning it into a film, instead you choose a specific scene from a film and go on to make a script out of it with your own words and ideas.

This fun exercise can get your brain working in overdrive with the multitude of possibilities flashing through your mind. You can change your perspective and write a sample screenplay with that scene as your base and compare it to the original screenplay to see the difference.

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Get Inspiration From Others’ Work For Practice

Before you go on and start copying other screenwriters’ screenplays for creating your own screenplays, you should know that stealing someone’s work is wrong and illegal. When we say that get inspiration from other works we want you to read other scripts and take a few scenes from it to create your own version of it, just for practice purposes!

Take an idea or scenario given by the writer in the screenplay and create your own screenplay dialogue, give it an alternative ending or follow the same ending scene. Do whatever you want but just make sure to have fun with it to and experience the freedom to write anything.

Don’t Tell, Just Show

A scene can get boring or too much depending upon how the character displays and expresses their feelings in situations. If a person continuously talks about how they feel, it can annoy the readers.

The best way to deal with the problem of overbearing emotions is to use your words to create a scenario where the character’s expressions, behavior and actions explains how they are feeling. Rather than stating simply that ‘I am angry’, a dialogue should be constructed where the character emotes through their actions. This exercise will enable writers to express a character’s emotions through their actions more and will immerse the reader.

Find Creativity in the Mundane

We may ignore the general routine, behavior, and even objects that we observe in our daily life because of how unimportant they seem. A screenwriter is supposed to observe their surroundings more than the normal person and find stories from the mundane objects and routines that they live.

An object, for example, an engraved pen may seem boring but in this exercise you have to take that pen as the center of your story and write details about it, describing its intricate styles and curvatures. This will improve how descriptive your scenes are and can help you evaluate your attention to detail which allows the readers to imagine scenes better. In this exercise, while observing the movement of people in the street or in a restaurant, think of the reasons behind what they did or what could have happened to them to lead them at that place at that exact time and write about it.

Give yourself freedom and space to write. Try to expand your world of writing and creativity by taking ordinary objects around you and giving them their own special story.

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5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

inspiration for next script

5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

There are days when a writer fails to find any inspiration, there is nothing fascinating or intriguing which captures his attention and compels him to write a story. Transforming good screenplay ideas into effective narratives is a tough task. The pressure increases further if one intends to enter into a screenplay contest or has a deadline looming over his head. This makes life even more difficult because time is running out and you are still out of fresh ideas. So what can be done in such a situation? Is there any way out? Here are 5 ways through which you can find inspiration and motivate yourself to write something interesting.

Meet somebody

It often happens with writers that they are so consumed by themselves that they fail to look at the world around them. They don’t meet a lot of people; they don’t go out due to which they fail to find inspiration. The best ways to get your creative juices going is by interacting with people. Interaction is essential if one wants to learn and grow. Go out, meet people from diverse backgrounds, listen to their stories, this is perhaps the best way to draft a compelling script. We tend to see stories through our own lens but we will only grow if we begin to see stories from a different perspective and engage with people who are different from us, whether they are from different culture, different religion or different social class.

Watch films

Majority of the people watch films for entertainment but as a screenplay writer one shouldn’t watch it just for entertainment but also for inspiration. An ordinary person may miss the nuances in a film but a creative identifies it easily and this innate ability sets aside a good screenwriter. He understands the screenplay treatments, the characters and the subtle developments. This will help any script writer to draw inspiration, learn and execute a master piece once he starts drafting his own story.

For example a film like Irishman can instantly awaken the film enthusiast inside you, it’s a film few might fully understand but those who do, will definitely get a chance to hone their own skills. The characters can also compel you to make a story on your own or sometimes a small gesture of the character can spark another idea therefore if you find yourself suffering from a writer’s bloc then one easy option is to watch a good film, there can be no better exercise apart from this.

Expert screenwriting team

Read a book

If you are too tired to watch anything then reading a book can be a very productive option. A book stimulates your brain and helps you to imagine on your own. Unlike in films or drama where everything is shown on screen, a book is open to interpretation. One can imagine any character to be of any sort. There is no barrier of thought or medium. The wild imagination helps you to think of new ideas as well. Even in some of the best screenwriting schools, faculty members encourage to read more rather than watching films. At any time of the day reading Arundithi Roy’s God of Small Things can prove to be much more inspirational than watching an old classic.

Read a newspaper

If you want to write serious content or something which depicts the reality of the society then reading newspapers could be a very helpful options. Newspapers have hundreds of stories inside them. From murders to corruption to frauds, there are scores of negative stories in there which await attention. Sometimes newspapers can also help you to explore a very interesting real life story. They are great sources when it comes to lead generation because there is immense information. Now the headlines may not attract you a lot but if you check the other pages then there could be a lot in store for you. Regional newspapers are also a great source as they have more local stories hence one could enjoy a lot of variety while reading those.

Don’t think that just because you are a creative writer therefore there is no use of reading a newspaper. One should always be open to every option because a good idea could be hidden anywhere, the question is, are you ready to explore it?

Watch documentaries

Many renowned filmmakers and story tellers have discussed how watching documentaries played a monumental role in their life. It helped them to look beyond their own world and introduced them to topics and areas which were unheard of. Films portray a fantasy world but documentaries help you to connect with the subject on a much deeper level. They leave you moved thus if one is running dry on ideas then documentary could be an ideal option. There are a lot of documentaries being made on various personalities e.g. sportsmen, artists, refugees and politicians, such stories could help a screenwriter to understand the style of storytelling or could help him to pick a character trait for his own character. Thus a good documentary should definitely be on your watch list at least once a week.

These are only some of the ways through which a writer can help himself/herself to come out of the block and unleash his true potential. However, every person might have his own method. Sometimes a walk down the park or a cup of steaming hot coffee might also do the trick, there isn’t any one formula. The goal should be that stories should keep coming because that is where the power lies!

5 Ideal Ways to Find Inspiration for your Next Script

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

There are days when a writer fails to find any inspiration, there is nothing fascinating or intriguing which captures his attention and compels him to write a story. Transforming good screenplay ideas into effective narratives is a tough task. The pressure increases further if one intends to enter into a screenplay contest or has a deadline looming over his head. This makes life even more difficult because time is running out and you are still out of fresh ideas. So what can be done in such a situation? Is there any way out? Here are 5 ways through which you can find inspiration and motivate yourself to write something interesting.

Meet somebody

It often happens with writers that they are so consumed by themselves that they fail to look at the world around them. They don’t meet a lot of people; they don’t go out due to which they fail to find inspiration. The best ways to get your creative juices going is by interacting with people. Interaction is essential if one wants to learn and grow. Go out, meet people from diverse backgrounds, listen to their stories, this is perhaps the best way to draft a compelling script. We tend to see stories through our own lens but we will only grow if we begin to see stories from a different perspective and engage with people who are different from us, whether they are from different culture, different religion or different social class.

Watch films

Majority of the people watch films for entertainment but as a screenplay writer one shouldn’t watch it just for entertainment but also for inspiration. An ordinary person may miss the nuances in a film but a creative identifies it easily and this innate ability sets aside a good screenwriter. He understands the screenplay treatments, the characters and the subtle developments. This will help any script writer to draw inspiration, learn and execute a master piece once he starts drafting his own story.

For example a film like Irishman can instantly awaken the film enthusiast inside you, it’s a film few might fully understand but those who do, will definitely get a chance to hone their own skills. The characters can also compel you to make a story on your own or sometimes a small gesture of the character can spark another idea therefore if you find yourself suffering from a writer’s bloc then one easy option is to watch a good film, there can be no better exercise apart from this.

Expert screenwriting team

Read a book

If you are too tired to watch anything then reading a book can be a very productive option. A book stimulates your brain and helps you to imagine on your own. Unlike in films or drama where everything is shown on screen, a book is open to interpretation. One can imagine any character to be of any sort. There is no barrier of thought or medium. The wild imagination helps you to think of new ideas as well. Even in some of the best screenwriting schools, faculty members encourage to read more rather than watching films. At any time of the day reading Arundithi Roy’s God of Small Things can prove to be much more inspirational than watching an old classic.

Read a newspaper

If you want to write serious content or something which depicts the reality of the society then reading newspapers could be a very helpful options. Newspapers have hundreds of stories inside them. From murders to corruption to frauds, there are scores of negative stories in there which await attention. Sometimes newspapers can also help you to explore a very interesting real life story. They are great sources when it comes to lead generation because there is immense information. Now the headlines may not attract you a lot but if you check the other pages then there could be a lot in store for you. Regional newspapers are also a great source as they have more local stories hence one could enjoy a lot of variety while reading those.

Don’t think that just because you are a creative writer therefore there is no use of reading a newspaper. One should always be open to every option because a good idea could be hidden anywhere, the question is, are you ready to explore it?

Watch documentaries

Many renowned filmmakers and story tellers have discussed how watching documentaries played a monumental role in their life. It helped them to look beyond their own world and introduced them to topics and areas which were unheard of. Films portray a fantasy world but documentaries help you to connect with the subject on a much deeper level. They leave you moved thus if one is running dry on ideas then documentary could be an ideal option. There are a lot of documentaries being made on various personalities e.g. sportsmen, artists, refugees and politicians, such stories could help a screenwriter to understand the style of storytelling or could help him to pick a character trait for his own character. Thus a good documentary should definitely be on your watch list at least once a week.

These are only some of the ways through which a writer can help himself/herself to come out of the block and unleash his true potential. However, every person might have his own method. Sometimes a walk down the park or a cup of steaming hot coffee might also do the trick, there isn’t any one formula. The goal should be that stories should keep coming because that is where the power lies!

Posted on

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Secrets of Screenwriting

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

Want to know some secrets that could help you in being a successful screenwriter in Hollywood? Well, we have got you covered, my friend!

There are some basic rules that are set in place that you have to follow to be able to have your screenplay given a chance. A majority of screenwriters find about these rules when they begin their work. We all know that you should follow a proper format of the screenplay, you should write it as simple as you can which means let the main idea shine through without it being muddled in useless information, have a hook in the beginning to attract a reader and show what the story is about rather than spend time explaining it to the reader. This is all well and good but this information is still a bit lacking to be greatly helpful.

Here are some secrets that would do you good in your career as a screenwriter:

• Everyone is Winging It!

There is a widespread belief in Hollywood that who you know in the industry matters a lot and can determine your success or failure. That may ring true in certain situations but that is not the case all the time. Budgets of large amounts are required for production of a screenplay, having a powerful contact may aid you in getting your screenplay noticed but will not guarantee that it will be turned into a film. In the end your script is what matters and has the power to attract people to it, you should use it to your advantage and write a compelling and effective screenplay.

There are no deep secrets to understanding Hollywood but one thing that can help you is to improve your art and refine it.

• Script Readers Evaluate Screenplays First

When you submit your screenplays to any producer or production company, you should be aware that before any producer gets to read your screenplay, a script reader first assesses it.

A script reader has the job to read through numerous screenplays that are submitted and conduct a screenplay evaluation objectively. Producers do not have time to go through tons of screenplays and scripts of all kinds, good and bad. They are too busy to waste their time on reading bad scripts so they hire script readers whose sole responsibility is to read and evaluate screenplays with no personal bias or preference being used to judge.

A majority of screenplays that are submitted are terribly written with no originality or proper storyline and screenplay format. Finding a good screenplay is like finding a needle in a haystack. Script readers will go through these screenplays and only forward the good ones to the producers to check. This saves a lot of time of the people involved from being wasted uselessly combing through meaningless screenplays. Thus, painting script readers as super heroes.

Your focus should be on trying to impress the script reader. It is highly disrespectful and unprofessional for you to send first drafts or incomplete versions of your screenplay just for the sake of getting an idea about reception of the possible script. You should send in your best work and it is never a bad idea to get your screenplay read by friends, family or mentors, to gauge out a reaction on the story and script.

Make sure to leave a great impression on the script reader!

Learn Scriptwriting

• Sometimes Luck Isn’t Enough

You are the master of your own destiny, take control of your life and make efforts to get your work out there for people to notice. Only luck will not enable you to become a successful screenwriter, it certainly does play a part but it does not completely guide your career in Hollywood as a screenwriter.

It is of utmost importance that you explore the different and unique ideas, hone your skills and create a screenplay which has not been done before by others, compelling the production companies to invest in your work. No one wants to spend large amounts of money on a screenwriter who is just following the same monotonous storylines that have been packaged as trendy, and not producing anything new.

It will be foolhardy for you to sit and wait for your luck to turn around, you need to take the first step before you can expect your screenplay to be miraculously noticed by a big production company or director.

• Great Writing Doesn’t Guarantee Success

Though many screenwriters would like to disagree with this secret or may try to deny it but great writing will not guarantee that your screenplay will be picked up by a production company and made into a successful film. The film industry does not work that way.

As a screenwriter, you can write many pieces of works where you establish great characters, dialogues and follow the proper screenplay format, but that alone may not give you the results you desire. Production costs in film-making are too high in comparison to the publishing industry, which means that the chances of your screenplay being selected for film-making are not going to be high with just good writing.

Hollywood is one of the biggest film industries in the world where art is dealt with as business, which is completely understandable and fair. A lot of investment goes into the creation of a film, making the screenplay a reality on the big screen, so no one wants to take a risk and suffer a loss by working on a screenplay that may be written well but also does not offer anything which has not been done before.

To make sure that your talents and potential as a screenwriter are not lost in the crowd of other screenwriters trying to make a name for themselves, you have to hustle hard. Write screenplays that are different from what the world has ever seen before, explore the ideas that have not yet been brought to people’s attention.

As we have said, great writing is not going to ensure you getting an opportunity, so, to put your name and stories out there participate in any upcoming screenwriting competitions and screenwriting fellowships. This is bound to get some heads turned towards you if you succeed in writing a great story with a unique idea and come out as a winner in these competitions.

Trade Secrets for Screenwriters

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

Want to know some secrets that could help you in being a successful screenwriter in Hollywood? Well, we have got you covered, my friend!

There are some basic rules that are set in place that you have to follow to be able to have your screenplay given a chance. A majority of screenwriters find about these rules when they begin their work. We all know that you should follow a proper format of the screenplay, you should write it as simple as you can which means let the main idea shine through without it being muddled in useless information, have a hook in the beginning to attract a reader and show what the story is about rather than spend time explaining it to the reader. This is all well and good but this information is still a bit lacking to be greatly helpful.

Here are some secrets that would do you good in your career as a screenwriter:

• Everyone is Winging It!

There is a widespread belief in Hollywood that who you know in the industry matters a lot and can determine your success or failure. That may ring true in certain situations but that is not the case all the time. Budgets of large amounts are required for production of a screenplay, having a powerful contact may aid you in getting your screenplay noticed but will not guarantee that it will be turned into a film. In the end your script is what matters and has the power to attract people to it, you should use it to your advantage and write a compelling and effective screenplay.

There are no deep secrets to understanding Hollywood but one thing that can help you is to improve your art and refine it.

• Script Readers Evaluate Screenplays First

When you submit your screenplays to any producer or production company, you should be aware that before any producer gets to read your screenplay, a script reader first assesses it.

A script reader has the job to read through numerous screenplays that are submitted and conduct a screenplay evaluation objectively. Producers do not have time to go through tons of screenplays and scripts of all kinds, good and bad. They are too busy to waste their time on reading bad scripts so they hire script readers whose sole responsibility is to read and evaluate screenplays with no personal bias or preference being used to judge.

A majority of screenplays that are submitted are terribly written with no originality or proper storyline and screenplay format. Finding a good screenplay is like finding a needle in a haystack. Script readers will go through these screenplays and only forward the good ones to the producers to check. This saves a lot of time of the people involved from being wasted uselessly combing through meaningless screenplays. Thus, painting script readers as super heroes.

Your focus should be on trying to impress the script reader. It is highly disrespectful and unprofessional for you to send first drafts or incomplete versions of your screenplay just for the sake of getting an idea about reception of the possible script. You should send in your best work and it is never a bad idea to get your screenplay read by friends, family or mentors, to gauge out a reaction on the story and script.

Make sure to leave a great impression on the script reader!

Learn Scriptwriting

• Sometimes Luck Isn’t Enough

You are the master of your own destiny, take control of your life and make efforts to get your work out there for people to notice. Only luck will not enable you to become a successful screenwriter, it certainly does play a part but it does not completely guide your career in Hollywood as a screenwriter.

It is of utmost importance that you explore the different and unique ideas, hone your skills and create a screenplay which has not been done before by others, compelling the production companies to invest in your work. No one wants to spend large amounts of money on a screenwriter who is just following the same monotonous storylines that have been packaged as trendy, and not producing anything new.

It will be foolhardy for you to sit and wait for your luck to turn around, you need to take the first step before you can expect your screenplay to be miraculously noticed by a big production company or director.

• Great Writing Doesn’t Guarantee Success

Though many screenwriters would like to disagree with this secret or may try to deny it but great writing will not guarantee that your screenplay will be picked up by a production company and made into a successful film. The film industry does not work that way.

As a screenwriter, you can write many pieces of works where you establish great characters, dialogues and follow the proper screenplay format, but that alone may not give you the results you desire. Production costs in film-making are too high in comparison to the publishing industry, which means that the chances of your screenplay being selected for film-making are not going to be high with just good writing.

Hollywood is one of the biggest film industries in the world where art is dealt with as business, which is completely understandable and fair. A lot of investment goes into the creation of a film, making the screenplay a reality on the big screen, so no one wants to take a risk and suffer a loss by working on a screenplay that may be written well but also does not offer anything which has not been done before.

To make sure that your talents and potential as a screenwriter are not lost in the crowd of other screenwriters trying to make a name for themselves, you have to hustle hard. Write screenplays that are different from what the world has ever seen before, explore the ideas that have not yet been brought to people’s attention.

As we have said, great writing is not going to ensure you getting an opportunity, so, to put your name and stories out there participate in any upcoming screenwriting competitions and screenwriting fellowships. This is bound to get some heads turned towards you if you succeed in writing a great story with a unique idea and come out as a winner in these competitions.

Posted on

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

Aspiring Screenwriters

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

If you’re a young, aspiring screenwriter, you’ve probably pounced on any screenwriting agent or manager accepting unsolicited screenplays. You leap onto the first chance you get to show off your work in the hopes of getting recognized and finally breaking into the film industry. A similar scenario is when a hopeful new screenwriter submits their first script ever to some of the best screenplay contests without the blink of an eye, dreaming of winning that coveted prize. It’s understandable for aspiring writers to have an optimistic outlook but there many traps they can fall into when it comes to submitting scripts.

The following five warnings will expose some of the mistakes new screenwriters might make early on during their screenwriting journeys or careers.

The Writing Traps

To stand out as a screenwriter, you need to forge an original writing style for yourself. If you simply follow preexisting formulae or an auteur’s established style, you’re not really bringing anything new to the table. If there’s anything that can launch your career, it’s an original, fresh voice that readers didn’t know they needed.

So how do you learn from others without lurking in their shadows? Ingest different perspectives and teachings, process them, sift through various guidelines and advice, and absorb what works for you. There’s no one right way – there are many muses and many paths to create a successful script. Adopting a single point of view or following one glorified screenwriter will only limit your potential, restricting you from exploring your writing ability and where it can lead you.

No long scripts!

You’ve got the perfect screenplay idea and you’re excited to start putting pen to paper. Don’t get too excited. Many screenwriters end up with a script that is 120 pages or more and find themselves trapped during the rewriting stage. Which scenes to cut? Which pages to completely do away with? It’s a trap! By writing too much, you’re facing the challenging, almost impossible, task of cutting a lot of fat off your script. That’s a daunting mission for any screenwriter who’s poured their heart out onto the blank page.

To avoid this trap, always repeat to yourself: less is more, less is more. Whenever you’re about to turn the page or write a new scene, ask yourself: do you really need this next scene? Is that dialogue really necessary? Another helpful tip to follow is the 30-30-30 rule. This rule basically says that each act should be 30 pages long. With a total of three acts, your script should be around 90 pages. During the rewriting stage, you might add a few pages, that’s not an issue at all. But it’s not like having to cut out over 25 pages of your script because you got carried away.

professional screenwriting

Take charge!

Screenwriting feedback is one of the most valuable assets on your journey as a writer. It offers you a different perspective and opens your eyes to different aspects you could improve. BUT that does not mean you get lazy and throw in the towel. You still need to write the best script you can write. Don’t just depend on feedback to fix and polish your script for you. Whether you seek feedback from friends, fellow writers, or coverage services, you shouldn’t delegate the bulk of the writing process to others.

Another side effect of screenwriting feedback is that you may end up getting used to the idea of always having someone to lean on, someone to check on your work after every draft. Although that’s useful during the early stages, it’s more harmful later. You need to improve your skills and develop them enough to become independent as a writer. It’s only by becoming confident that you’ll be more comfortable when you eventually land a paid position where 100% of the work is on you.

The Business Traps

No wishful thinking!

The waiting, the hoping, the wishing. It’s an inevitable phase of every screenwriter’s life. You’ve just submitted your screenplay to one of the best screenplay contests. Or you’ve sent your spec script to a screenwriting agent accepting unsolicited screenplays. The suspenseful, long wait follows. What also follows are endless clicks on that refresh button, expecting an e-mail bringing good news. Or hours spent by the phone, expecting a call inviting you over to “the office.”

All this is just unnecessary pain. Try to let go of your scripts after submitting them anywhere. Instead of hanging all your hopes on that script, spend that time working on a new screenplay idea.Or simply take a break and relax a bit. But overthinking about that possible reply will just drain your energy and do nothing but harm your morale. Stay focused, set realistic goals without getting sucked into the fantasies and dreams of screenwriting success.

Market your script strategically!

The first rule of screenplay marketing: never use your first scripts. First scripts are for trial and error, experimenting with the format, making the silly newbie mistakes, and learning from all that. Even if your first script turns out to be miraculously good and you get that e-mail or that call for an interview, it’s more likely than not that your interviewer would want to take a look at your portfolio, to see your other work. What then? You don’t want to come off as a novice who just got lucky. So before going to market, have at least 4-5 scripts in your portfolio as samples of your work.

Another important marketing rule is: do your research. You have to be fully aware of your target audience (or agents, managers, producers). You need to know which buyers make your kind of movies, pitch them yours, and hope for the best. But throwing your fishing net and wishing for whatever it catches is not a reliable, effective way to do things. You must create a marketing plan, well-researched, focused, and with multiple options. Prepare yourself and your script for the market. How? Research. Reach out and explore all the connections possible. Network. Write a solid logline. Be ready for what’s coming next and don’t waste your screenplay on companies that are a bad fit or agents that don’t really work with your genre.

5 Warnings For Aspiring Screenwriters

Pro Tip: Start with a logline

If you’re a young, aspiring screenwriter, you’ve probably pounced on any screenwriting agent or manager accepting unsolicited screenplays. You leap onto the first chance you get to show off your work in the hopes of getting recognized and finally breaking into the film industry. A similar scenario is when a hopeful new screenwriter submits their first script ever to some of the best screenplay contests without the blink of an eye, dreaming of winning that coveted prize. It’s understandable for aspiring writers to have an optimistic outlook but there many traps they can fall into when it comes to submitting scripts.

The following five warnings will expose some of the mistakes new screenwriters might make early on during their screenwriting journeys or careers.

The Writing Traps

To stand out as a screenwriter, you need to forge an original writing style for yourself. If you simply follow preexisting formulae or an auteur’s established style, you’re not really bringing anything new to the table. If there’s anything that can launch your career, it’s an original, fresh voice that readers didn’t know they needed.

So how do you learn from others without lurking in their shadows? Ingest different perspectives and teachings, process them, sift through various guidelines and advice, and absorb what works for you. There’s no one right way – there are many muses and many paths to create a successful script. Adopting a single point of view or following one glorified screenwriter will only limit your potential, restricting you from exploring your writing ability and where it can lead you.

No long scripts!

You’ve got the perfect screenplay idea and you’re excited to start putting pen to paper. Don’t get too excited. Many screenwriters end up with a script that is 120 pages or more and find themselves trapped during the rewriting stage. Which scenes to cut? Which pages to completely do away with? It’s a trap! By writing too much, you’re facing the challenging, almost impossible, task of cutting a lot of fat off your script. That’s a daunting mission for any screenwriter who’s poured their heart out onto the blank page.

To avoid this trap, always repeat to yourself: less is more, less is more. Whenever you’re about to turn the page or write a new scene, ask yourself: do you really need this next scene? Is that dialogue really necessary? Another helpful tip to follow is the 30-30-30 rule. This rule basically says that each act should be 30 pages long. With a total of three acts, your script should be around 90 pages. During the rewriting stage, you might add a few pages, that’s not an issue at all. But it’s not like having to cut out over 25 pages of your script because you got carried away.

professional screenwriting

Take charge!

Screenwriting feedback is one of the most valuable assets on your journey as a writer. It offers you a different perspective and opens your eyes to different aspects you could improve. BUT that does not mean you get lazy and throw in the towel. You still need to write the best script you can write. Don’t just depend on feedback to fix and polish your script for you. Whether you seek feedback from friends, fellow writers, or coverage services, you shouldn’t delegate the bulk of the writing process to others.

Another side effect of screenwriting feedback is that you may end up getting used to the idea of always having someone to lean on, someone to check on your work after every draft. Although that’s useful during the early stages, it’s more harmful later. You need to improve your skills and develop them enough to become independent as a writer. It’s only by becoming confident that you’ll be more comfortable when you eventually land a paid position where 100% of the work is on you.

The Business Traps

No wishful thinking!

The waiting, the hoping, the wishing. It’s an inevitable phase of every screenwriter’s life. You’ve just submitted your screenplay to one of the best screenplay contests. Or you’ve sent your spec script to a screenwriting agent accepting unsolicited screenplays. The suspenseful, long wait follows. What also follows are endless clicks on that refresh button, expecting an e-mail bringing good news. Or hours spent by the phone, expecting a call inviting you over to “the office.”

All this is just unnecessary pain. Try to let go of your scripts after submitting them anywhere. Instead of hanging all your hopes on that script, spend that time working on a new screenplay idea.Or simply take a break and relax a bit. But overthinking about that possible reply will just drain your energy and do nothing but harm your morale. Stay focused, set realistic goals without getting sucked into the fantasies and dreams of screenwriting success.

Market your script strategically!

The first rule of screenplay marketing: never use your first scripts. First scripts are for trial and error, experimenting with the format, making the silly newbie mistakes, and learning from all that. Even if your first script turns out to be miraculously good and you get that e-mail or that call for an interview, it’s more likely than not that your interviewer would want to take a look at your portfolio, to see your other work. What then? You don’t want to come off as a novice who just got lucky. So before going to market, have at least 4-5 scripts in your portfolio as samples of your work.

Another important marketing rule is: do your research. You have to be fully aware of your target audience (or agents, managers, producers). You need to know which buyers make your kind of movies, pitch them yours, and hope for the best. But throwing your fishing net and wishing for whatever it catches is not a reliable, effective way to do things. You must create a marketing plan, well-researched, focused, and with multiple options. Prepare yourself and your script for the market. How? Research. Reach out and explore all the connections possible. Network. Write a solid logline. Be ready for what’s coming next and don’t waste your screenplay on companies that are a bad fit or agents that don’t really work with your genre.

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